But Schneider never had any intention of actually selling the sneakers. Nor did he plan on keeping them for himself. Instead, he stashed them in his basement, waiting for the day of the Connecticut Sneaker Show. It is at this event -- the region's biggest-ever celebration of the sports footwear craze -- that he'll raffle off those and other coveted kicks.

"We bought them just for the show," said Schneider, who is organizing the extravaganza. "It's like having a celebrity come to your event."

Schneider is hoping to lure thousands of sports footwear collectors -- otherwise known as sneakerheads -- to the Connecticut Sneaker Show, taking place Sunday, May 4, at Bridgeport's Webster Bank Arena.

More than 70 vendors (Schneider included) will be slinging sneakers, or showing them off, in what might be described as a stock exchange for sports footwear. Attendees will be able to buy, sell or trade shoes, and face off in assorted sneaker competitions, with awards for Best "OG" Jordans and Best Overall Collection.

As if all of those shiny sneakers weren't enticement enough, there will be performances by rappers Juelz Santana, Slow Bucks and members of the A$AP MOB, and music by Hot 97's Funk Flex, 106 and Parks' DJ Relly Rell and Hot 93.7's Joey Franchize, DJ Santo and DJ Projo. Model and social media starlet India Westbrooks will host the spectacular.

"It had to be done," Schneider said of the event. "Because it's such a crazy trend, because it's so massively popular."

This "crazy trend" is being driven by thousands of young, mostly male, sneaker fanatics. Owen Corizelli counts himself among them. The Easton resident's love affair with sneakers began two years ago after he laid eyes on, and eventually bought, a pair of black and charcoal grey Nike Lebron 9s -- sneakers worn by the NBA star during the Miami Heat's 2012-13 championship season.

But unlike King James, the 13-year-old would never think to wear them on the court, or anywhere else that might soil such a prized possession.

"When I decide to wear a pair, whether a retro Jordan or a Nike basketball sneaker, I usually plan out where I'm going," he said. "Trust me, I'm not going to be stepping in the mud."

Corizelli, the owner of more than a dozen pairs of sneakers, will display his collection at the show. He'll also be "keeping his eyes peeled" for his next acquisition: a pair of black leather Nike Air Jordan 1s.

"They were originally released in 1985 and they just brought them back in 2013," he said of the sneakers. "I'm really looking out for them."

Schneider can't help but see the irony in a sneaker attracting more attention than the athlete it's named after. At any other event, LeBron James or Michael Jordan would be the main draw.

"But at a show like this," Schneider said, "it's more important to have the player's shoe than the actual player."